Alarm



2 sheets-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. M. WILLIAMS.

ALARM.

Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

WIJWES E S s WNVENTOR .dttorncy n PETERS. Mumm Wauhiqfim n. c.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

ALARM.

G. M. WILLIAMS.

(No Model.)

IJVVEWTOR) WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

Application filed May 1, 1885.

.T 0 all whom it may 00necrn:

Be it known that I, GWILYM M. WILLiAMs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAlarms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a a full, clear,and exact description of the i11- vention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an alarm adapted especially for use in mines,and is designed to give warning to the workmen when from any causewhatever the ventilation of the mine is insufficient to carry offexplosive gases, there by enabling the workmen to escape to a point ofsafety until the means or apparatus for ventilating purposes can berepaired or placed in proper running order.

The invention consists in the combination, with a box or casing, of apivoted or hinged plate connected with and adapted, when the draught isinsufficient to prevent the accumulation of explosive gases, to drop andclose an electric circuit,which includes alarming mechanism, such asbells, and actuating said mechanism until the proper ventilatingpressure has been restored.

The invention further consists in the improved construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 00 a;of Fi 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A represents a box orcasing, which is divided into two compartments, B O. The compartment Bhas an aperture or opening, a, in the side of the box for the passage ofthe current of air therethrough. The said opening or passage a has aseat, a, against which the valve rests when forced there by the currentof air, and the bottom of said compartment B is formed with a series ofperforations or openings, 1), from which it will be seen that when saidbox or casing is placed in the line of ventilation (be- 328,166, datedOctober 13, 1885 SeiialNo. llitlflfl. (No model.)

tween the face of the working and the ventilating apparatus) the airenters through the perforations or openings b.

Located within the compartment 13 is a shaft, D, one end of whichextends into compartment 0, suitable bearings, 0, being provided on thepartition-wall d, dividing the box or casing for the accommodation ofthe end of said shaft, the other end of the shaft having bearings d,secured to one of the side walls of the casing. The shaft D is locatedin compartment B, in close proximity to the aperture a, and upon saidshaft is mounted a valve consisting of aplate, d, which is adapted tofit said aperature a and close the same. As long as there is asufficient pressure of air for ventilating purposes the valve will beforced and held against the sides of the aper ture a; but as soon as thesupply is insufficient the valve will be withdrawn from the aperture bymeans and for a purpose which will be described. Upon the end 0 of theshaft which extends into the compartment 0 is rigidly secured, so as tomove therewith, an arm, E, which has a series of graduated marks uponits outer face.

Upon the arm E is a weight, F, which is preferably connected with thearm in such manner that it cannot be accidentally displaced. Thepreferred means for accomplishing this result is by providing the arm Ewith aseries of openings, one for each mark and on a line therewith, andby providing the weight F with a hook,f, adapted to engage any one ofthe series of openings. If a pressure on the valve equal to a weight ofthree ounces is necessary for proper ventilation, the weight upon arm Eis placed at two and onehalf ounces, so that should the pressure of airbe less than three ounces the weight on the arm will withdraw the valvefrom the aperture in compartment I3.

Formed integral with the arm E or secured to said arm or the shaft uponwhich it is mounted, so that when the valve is removed from the apertureit will be moved with the said shaft, is a short arm, G, having anelongated slot, 9, near its lower end.

H II represent binding-posts, and h wires connecting the same with abattery and alarming mechanism, which being of an ordinary or well-knownconstruction is not shown.

ICO

The wires h are held in place by means of the ordinary bindingscrews, z.

Hinged or pivoted to the binding-post H is a contact-lever, I, whichwhen the circuit is closed bears against the bindingpost H.

Extending from the free end of the contactlever I are two metal plates,J, which are insulated by having their ends east with hard insulatingmaterial into the cylindrical portion and having holes near their endsfor the passage of a pin, j, which also passes through the elongatedslot in the lower end of the short arm G.

It will be observed that when the force of air is insufficient toovercome the weight on arm E and hold the valve to its seat the said armE will be lowered, thus forcing the contact-lever, through the medium ofthe short arm G and the plates J, into contact with the binding-post H,thus completing the circuit and causing an alarm.

\Vhile the above described is, so far as I am at present aware, the bestmeans for carrying out my invention, I would have it understood that Ido not limit myself to the exact eonstruetion shown and described, butreserve to myself the right to make all such changes and alterations inthe construction and arrangement of the'divers parts as properly fallWithin the spirit and scope of my invention.

Instead of two short pieces to form the shaft for the valve, it isobvous thatI could employ a shaft of one piece. The construction shown,however, is preferable on account of its lightness.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thecombination, with a boX having an opening, ofa valve to close saidopening and mounted on a journaled shaft, an electric circuit whichincludes alarming mechanism, and a circuit-closer connected withthejournaled shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In an alarming mechanism of the character described, the combination,with a box or casing having an opening in one ofits sides, of ajournaled shaft carrying a valve to close said opening, a leverconnected with said shaft and having a circuit-closer, an electriccircuit which includes alarming mechanism, and an adjustable weight forsaid lever, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a box or casing having an aperture and a seriesof perforations, of a shaft carrying a valve adapted to close saidaperture, an arm or lever on said shaft, intermediate devices tocomplete an electric circuit, and an alarm mechanism included in thecircuit, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with an apertured box or casing, substantially asdescribed, of a shaft carrying a valve arranged to close said aperture,an arm or lever connected with said shaft, a short arm adapted to turnwith the shaft, a movable weight on the arm, bindingposts, acontact-lever pivoted to one of said binding-posts and connected withsaid short arm, and an electric circuit which includes an alarmmechanism, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with an apertured box or casing, substantially asdescribed, of ajournaled shaft carrying a valve arranged to close saidaperture, an arm connected with said shaft, a movable weight on saidarm, a short arm adapted to turn with the shaft and provided with aslot, binding-posts, a lever pivoted to one of the latter, platesextending from the contaet-lever and connected with the slot of theshort arm, and an electric circuit which includes an alarm mechanism,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a box or easing having an aperture andperforations or openings, of a journaled shaft carrying a Valve to closesaid aperture, an arm mounted on said shaft, a movable weight on saidarm, a short arm adapted to turn with the shaft, said short arm having aslot, binding-posts, a contactlever pivoted to one of the latter, platesextending from the contactlever and insulated, said plates beingpivotally connected with said short arm, and an electric circuit whichincludes an alarm mechanism operated by said short arm, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GWILYM M. XVILLIAMS.

Vitnesses:

H. P. BLACKMAN, JOHN RICHARDS.

